Spotlight on 2027-2028 Course Selection

Each month, the LP Link will spotlight an area of District focus to share valuable information and resources with our school community. This month focuses on the upcoming course selection process, the importance of this process, and how it ultimately connects to the larger goal of preparing students for post-secondary success.

Course selection is a significant event in a high school student’s academic career because annually it provides an opportunity to explore interests while preparing for the future. Lake Park is committed to preparing every student for life beyond high school. The Board of Education, leadership team, teachers, and staff believe that postsecondary success is a continuous journey, not a single destination. Our Lancer-Centric Learning model focuses on ensuring each student is equipped not just with knowledge, but with the skills, mindsets, and experiences they need to thrive in a world that is constantly evolving.

Course Selection Kick-off Week: October 26-30

New this year, course registration has been moved to first semester to provide the greatest opportunity for students to begin their career and course exploration process early. To ensure Lancer families feel ready, the Lake Park counseling team has enhanced the course-selection process to increase communication, provide clarity, and ensure that all courses are represented. From Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30, current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors can expect to receive information from counselors and teachers about course selection. The East Campus elective fair, to be hosted during all lunch periods on Tuesday, October 27, will provide a unique opportunity to hear about course offerings from elective departments. West Campus counselors will visit physics classes on Monday and Tuesday to explain the unique options available during senior year. On Wednesday, October 28, students will hear course recommendations, including elective options, from their current teachers in the core subjects of English, Math, Science and Social Studies, and West Campus will host their elective fair. The activities of the week lead up to the Lancer Period on Thursday, October 29 when students will use SchooLinks to create or review their 4-year plan. Counselors will be available in the Career & College Center at both campuses during all lunch periods for follow-up questions on Friday, October 30. 

Career Pathways Video Series

Earlier this calendar year, a collection of four unique Career Pathway videos were introduced to help every Lancer visualize their future. They will be reintroduced and viewed by students during the future-forward preview week to help them better connect the classroom to their own potential.

• Business Management and Administration Pathways
• Human and Public Service Pathways
• Information Technology Pathways
• Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology and Trades Pathways

While Lake Park only features four videos, the District actually offers multiple career pathway programs recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Students who complete pathway endorsements explore careers, like all Lake Park students, but they also earn college credit, develop real-world, industry-specific skills and qualifications, and potentially earn industry credentials. Upon completion of all the pathway program requirements, a student can earn a diploma endorsement seal upon graduation. 

October 29 Lancer Period: Course Planner and SchooLinks

During the Lancer Period on Thursday, October 29, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will use SchooLinks to prepare for course selection. Now in its fourth year, this career and college readiness platform helps prepare students for life after graduation. Lancers will review their saved career interests, identify matching Lake Park classes, and draft a course plan for the 2027-2028 school year. SchooLinks helps students discover strengths, explore career and college options, build resumes, and search for local jobs or scholarships. It also supports the college application process for sending transcripts and recommendation letters.

A unique component of SchooLinks is that it allows parents/guardians to create an account to monitor their student’s progress. Review this document for instructions how to set up a parent/guardian account. With the upcoming 2027-2028 course registration process less than a month away, now is the perfect time to register and explore your child(ren)’s progress. 

GPS College and Career Discovery Series

What will matter most when today’s students enter a workforce that is changing faster than ever? New this school year, GPS: Navigating Healthy Families is excited to announce a 10-part College and Career Discovery Series, where nationally recognized experts will tackle the questions families are asking about college admissions, career discovery, paying for college, financial independence, the changing world of work and successfully making the transition from high school to what comes next.

During the first event hosted earlier this month, Stephanie Malia Krauss and Dr. Tony Wagner explored the human skills, habits and mindsets young people need to adapt, find and create opportunity and step confidently into their futures.Watch a replay of the program titled “Next Steps: What Today’s Kids Need for Tomorrow’s World of Work.” 

Lake Park is proud to be one of many school districts that partner with GPS Parent Series, which is proudly celebrating more than 30 years of providing free, expert-led resources to support families. Through this continued partnership, Lake Park families are invited and welcome to attend the 2026-2027 workshops. For the convenience of participants, the majority of this year’s one-hour events will be presented virtually on Zoom at noon and 7:00 p.m. GPS is completely free and open to everyone—no sign up is required! 

Important Course Selection Dates

In the coming weeks, counselors will meet with their assigned grade levels in English or Science courses during the following course selection dates:

Class of 2028 - Rising Seniors: November 2 to November 6 

Class of 2029 - Rising Juniors: November 2 to November 6

Class of 2030 - Rising Sophomores: November 11 to November 18

Class of 2031 - Incoming Freshmen (8th Grade): December 10 to December 17

Thank you for your support and partnership in the important process of selecting courses for next year. 

Double State Spirit March

Both girls and boys golf teams cap off historic runs at IHSA State Finals.

Congratulations to the Varsity Girls Golf team for qualifying for the IHSA 2A State Tournament for the first time in program history following their runner-up finish at the Prospect Sectional held at the Mt. Prospect Golf Club. This achievement came on the heels of their IHSA Regional Championship victory.


Samantha Rottinger (12) and Amaani Patel (12) led the Lancers with top-10 individual finishes—both shooting under 80—while Ella Ratini (12) placed in the top 20. Solid rounds from Valentina Ancona (12), Jenna Danicek (11), and Mia Collela (11) secured the team's spot at State. 


The team competed at the IHSA State Tournament at Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur from October 9-10, ending their historic season with an impressive 7th place team finish and an All-State (8th place) individual finish by Samantha Rottinger. The Lancers were led by Head Coach James Chellson and Assistant Coach Billy Pitcher.

Congratulations to the Varsity Boys Golf team for qualifying for the IHSA 3A State Tournament at the Burlington Central Sectional held at Elgin Country Club. This marked the program's fifth trip to the State Tournament and its first qualification since 2017.


The Lancers secured the third team qualifying spot by a single stroke over Jacobs High School and St. Charles North. Sloan Voytek (11) led the team with an even-par 72 to finish second individually, while Griffin Machalak (10) took fifth place with a 74. Scoring was completed by Arjav Shah (10), Evan Rygal (10), and Evan Hohnacki (11), with Richard Ridgeway (12) also competing.


Competing in the IHSA State Tournament at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington from October 9-10, the boys earned an outstanding 8th place team finish and an All-State (8th place) individual finish by Sloan Voytek. The Lancers were led by Head Coach Tim Moran and Assistant Coach Tom Mazzie.

Introducing Lancer Stories

Discover how Lancer-Centric Learning is designed around student needs.

At Lake Park, postsecondary success is not a single destination; it is a continuous journey that begins the moment a student enters our doors. We navigate this journey through our strategic framework, The Lancer Way, which serves as our compass to focus on what matters most. At the heart of this work is Lancer-Centric Learning: ensuring every decision, lesson, and program is designed around individual student needs.

Because secondary education today looks and feels quite different from decades past, we want to give you an authentic, front-row seat to this progress. Over the coming months, we will be sharing Lancer Stories, a regular series featuring honest, behind-the-scenes glimpses into our classrooms to highlight system changes, student experiences, and our educators as they actively navigate this growth phase together.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Wojtowicz invites you to join us on this journey as we chronicle the evolution of our school system to provide every student with expanded opportunities for exploration, discovery, and personal development. Read the first installation.

German and French Foreign Exchange Students

International guests visit Lake Park during the month of October.

Willkommen to 15 students and two teacher chaperones who arrived in the U.S. this month from Germany! Lake Park families welcomed and are hosting the international guests from Helene Lange Gymnasium in Hamburg, Germany from Friday, October 2 through Thursday, October 22.

The exchange includes German students staying with their American counterparts who are enrolled in the World Language curriculum. Along with attending classes at Lake Park and participating in school-related activities, they are also taking field trips to famous Chicago landmarks like Navy Pier, the Hancock and Willis Tower, and the Chicago River and Lakefront. They are also visiting the many museums Chicago offers, including the Art Institute and the Museum of Science & Industry.

Lancers will complete the exchange by traveling to Hamburg in June 2027. While there they will get to visit classes at Helene Lange, visit the sights in Hamburg, and take trips to Berlin and the North Sea Island of Sylt.

Bienvenue to 25 students and three teacher chaperones who arrived in the U.S. on Saturday, October 10. Special thanks to Lake Park families who welcomed the international guests from Sainte Marie de Nevers in Toulouse, France, and will have hosted for 10 days when they depart on Monday, October 19.

The exchange includes French students staying with their American counterparts who are enrolled in French 2 through Advanced Placement French. They have been attending classes at Lake Park and participating in school activities as well as had the opportunity to visit Chicago attractions and museums, such as the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute, a Wendella Boat tour, and more! Their full itinerary kicked off with a welcome potluck at East Campus and will conclude with attending the Bulls-Timberwolves preseason game at United Center on Friday, October 16.

Lancers will complete the exchange by traveling to France during spring break and staying at the homes of their Exchange partners. The "Échange" or French Exchange provides a unique experience for students to not only see France but also experience life as a French European.

Theatre Department Takes Center Stage
Thespians present fall play in unique grayscale, host haunted house fundraiser.

Lake Park’s Theatre Department invites you to attend the Fall Play, Seven Keys to Baldpate at the East Campus Dice Auditorium. This entertaining murder mystery/farce will be presented in a very unique format: completely in grayscale, as if watching an old film noir—except live actors are on stage!

Show times are 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28; Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30. General admission is $5 at the door for ages 13 and up (cash preferred). Senior citizens and Lake Park students with ID are free.

Seniors Brayden Cervantes (William Hallowell Magee), Ricky Gomez (Jiggs Kennedy), Charlotte Goodin (Myra Thornhill), Thalia Rhodes (Mrs. Quimby), Julia Troutman (Mrs. Rhodes), Trevor Watson (John Bland), and Reese Wyatt (Owner of Baldpate Inn) fill key roles and are supported by nine other students in this hilarious tale that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Guests over 12 years old are invited to "Scooby-Doo" on Friday, October 23 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. in the East Campus Dice Auditorium when the Lake Park Thespians present their annual haunted house. The production is developed, directed, produced, written, and cast completely by Lancer students.

Because this event serves as a fundraiser for the Thespian Troupe #3516, admission is $5.00 per ticket or $10.00 per person with unlimited opportunities to walk through. Prepare for a frightfully good time!

ACT Test Prep Course Registration

Enroll in a weekday or Saturday morning course starting in January 2027.

In preparation for the ACT test on April 14, 2027, Lake Park High School will offer a course beginning in January 2027 for juniors to develop study skills to improve ACT scores. In addition to Reading, English, Math, and Science, the course emphasizes test-taking strategies and techniques for the ACT. Students will gain insights into ACT testing situations, gain familiarity and comfort with the technology, practice and remediation, and explanations to ACT questions and answer choices.

Taught by certified teachers, the course fee is $225 and is offered on either weekdays (Tues/Thur) after school or Saturday mornings. Registration will be accepted until Friday, December 4. For additional details, view the course brochure and complete an application form.

Robotics Tournament

LPEF seeks volunteers, sponsors for October 24.

The Lake Park High School Educational Foundation is excited to host the LPHS robotics tournament on Saturday, October 24 consisting of over 40 teams competing for state and national qualifications.

LPEF is looking for sponsorship and volunteer support to run the tournament. If you are interested in sponsoring or volunteering for the competition, contact Executive Director Becky Wyatt at rwyatt@lphs.org.

Visit the robotics website for more information about the Robotics Partnership and the Tournament.